Senator Solomon Adeola’s emergence as chairman appropriation committee of the 10th senate has been described as a good omen for Ogun state.
According to Gbenga Akinwande, president, Gbenga Akinwande Foundation and former House of Representatives aspirant, Adeola promotion is a classical example of hard work, experience and his consistency in the democratic development of the country.
The social-economic development expert urged Senator Adeola to use his new exalted position to ensure a comprehensive social security bill is enshrined in Nigeria’s law to replace the various palliatives initiatives of the government and individual politicians.
Akinwande noted that the reason he is urging the ranking senator to do this is because palliatives are good political strategy to boost the image of politicians, but it is a bad economic strategy, thereby making it a great danger overall for the nation.
“Palliatives are not viable option for a developing economy like ours because it hamper economic growth and put unnecessary pressure on the political leaders to do unneedful to the state because the money for palliatives will have to come from budget paddling, which on the other hand cause unnecessary economic burden for the state.
“Rather, we should begin thinking of credit economic patterns for our citizens as applicable in the western democracies, where citizens have access to credit facilities for materials, tools, equipment, and machineries to facilitate their trades and professions, while in the process jobs are created and the economy is expanded.
“Thus, it is important to pass a bill into law for a productive social and economic security recovery programme that will make the poor in our society productive, while enjoying some little benefits from the state during their training and inductions.”
Akinwande said what government should do is open job centres of a minimum of six offices in each local government based on size of the council area to train citizens for employment and trades, and facilitates social security benefits to citizens.
The Ayetoro-born politician further advised the presidency to make the proposed N8,000 to poor families temporary, while in the long run put every poor senior citizen (65+) without pension on a monthly N5,000 stipend, while all unemployed citizens should be directed to report to the job centres for identification and continuous engagement and training in various trades and skills with monthly allowance being paid to them.
“Funding these endeavours is capital intensive, but this is achievable by closing all loopholes and leakages in revenues generation and raising taxes wherever it is possible. Vital to the success of this programme is a viable local government system where prosperity can trickle down to the grassroots. The pronounced economic hardship in our country can be traced down to lack of competitions and death of local government since 2003”, Akinwande noted